Jan., i90() Birds of Illinois and Wisconsin — Cory. 



453 



Genus ELANUS Savig. 



152. Elanus leucurus (Vieill.). 

 White-tailed Kite. 



Distr. : Southern United States, from South CaroHna and southern 

 lUinois to Central and South America. Breeds in southern United 

 States southward. 



Adult: Upper parts, ashy gray; primaries, ashy gray; head, 

 mostly white ; a large black patch on the shoulder (wing coverts) ; 



White-tailed Kite. 



tail and under parts, white; a black spot in front of the eye; iris, red; 

 bill, black; cere, yellowish; feet, yellow. 



The sexes are similar, but the female is slightly larger than the 

 male. 



Immature birds show more or less rusty brown; wing feathers 

 tipped with white and the breast is marked with pale rusty brown; 

 middle tail feathers, grayish, varying with age. 



Length, 15 to 16.50; wing, 11.75 ^o i3-5°; tail, about 6.50; bill, 

 .70; tarsus, 1.30. 



This beautiful species is included on the authority of Prof. Ridg- 

 way, who states that a pair was "observed near the river at Mt. Car- 

 mel, during the summer of 1863 or 1864" and he considers it, "very 

 likely of not uncommon occurrence during the summer in suitable 

 places in the extreme southern counties of the state." (Orn. of 111., 

 Vol. I, 1889, p. 447.) 



